From the best caprese salads to a classic caprese sandwich, this list of 20 favorite tomato, mozzarella, and basil themed recipes will have you going crazy for caprese.
Caprese might as well be the culinary queen of summer. With a heavenly combo of perfectly ripe, juicy in-season tomatoes, fresh basil, creamy buffalo mozzarella, and the best fruity olive oil your wallet can afford, it just doesn’t get much better. Caprese is proof there’s not much you can’t do with a few basic, quality ingredients.
Whether enjoyed alone as a preamble salad, or served as a potluck side dish that will be the first to disappear, a classic caprese is pure love on a plate, in a bowl, or on a platter. But take those classically fresh Italian ingredients and add a dose of inspiration and you have so much more: a topper for chicken, or spritzing up toasts, or making breakfast eggs even more of the best way to start your day. These 20 caprese recipes celebrate easy, breezy summertime. Get them before the getting’s gone, it’s time to get your caprese on.
1. The Best Caprese Salad (Plus A DIY Caprese Salad Bar)
The best caprese salad shows off summer’s finest with creamy mozzarella and heirloom tomatoes topped with fresh leafy basil and fruity olive oil. Serve the salads individually or turn this simple Italian staple into a party by creating a DIY caprese salad bar where everyone can help themselves.
2. Melted Mozzarella Caprese Crostini Toasts
Whether you take the fancier route and name them crostini, or keep it real and call them toasts, these Italian crostini caprese appetizer bites with roasted tomatoes, prosciutto, and melted mozzarella cheese on sliced baguette are so easy to whip up everyone will be calling for more.
3. Chicken Caprese Sandwich
Grilled rosemary bread is a delicious base for this grilled chicken caprese sandwich. It features fresh buffalo mozzarella, basil, farmer’s market tomatoes, and a balsamic reduction for a classic flavor combination you just can’t beat. 
4. Healthy Caprese Breakfast Sandwiches
Healthy breakfast sandwiches you can make fast at home can be the saving grace when you don’t have time to eat at the start of your day.
5. Roasted Tomato And Burrata Caprese Salad
The sweetness from just-picked garden tomatoes is hard to find year round, so I roast my tomatoes on a foil-lined sheet pan to give them an irresistible candied flavor in this summery caprese salad.
6. Mozzarella And Tomato Caprese Flatbread
This caprese flatbread recipe is an easy way to take advantage of the best of the season’s fresh tomatoes, basil, and of course mozzarella, making it the perfect appetizer bite or as an easy vegetarian dinner.
7. Avocado Caprese Salad
Dress up the traditional Italian caprese salad recipe with fresh, peppery arugula and creamy avocado for more great flavors and textures.
8. How To Make A Stunning Caprese Salad Platter
Laying all your favorite caprese salad ingredients—like burrata cheese, marinated mozzarella balls, tomatoes, and fresh stone fruit—out on a platter instead of layered in a bowl makes this self-serve salad or appetizer the easiest way to choose all your favorite bites.
9. Caprese Pasta Salad
If there’s one pasta salad you’ll be making on repeat all summer long, it’s this caprese pasta salad with cherry tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, and basil. It’s fast, it’s simple, and it’s cravingly good.
10. Caprese Zucchini Salad
Healthy spirals of fresh zucchini add great fiber and help beef up the traditional caprese salad, for more heft and health.
11. Strawberry Caprese Pasta Salad
This fresh and easy pasta salad combines the fresh flavors of strawberries, mint, and basil with a simply sweetened balsamic dressing for a pasta spin on the classic caprese.
12. The BEST Caprese Sandwich
Juicy, vine-ripened tomatoes, fresh mozzarella cheese, and fragrant basil leaves drizzled with olive oil and balsamic glaze make this classic caprese sandwich THE BEST Italian deli favorite you can make at home.
13. Caprese Pasta Salad With Garlic Marinated Tomatoes
This easy caprese pasta salad recipe steeps cherry tomatoes in a garlic-infused oil that becomes the dressing over any type of pasta with sliced mozzarella, capers, lemon, and basil making it a healthy potluck recipe that’s perfectly ripe for brunch, lunch, or a dinner everyone will love.
14. Quinoa And Burrata Caprese Salad
Everyone’s favorite caprese salad with tomatoes, basil and creamy burrata cheese gets a protein boost thanks to the addition of healthy quinoa.
15. Burrata And Heirloom Tomato Caprese Salad
Creamy, dreamy burrata subs in for traditional buffalo mozzarella in this delicious twist on the classic caprese salad, for a light and easy summer appetizer or side to any dish.
16. Microwave Egg Caprese Breakfast Cups
These homemade egg, ham, and caprese flavored breakfast cups only take 2 minutes to cook in the microwave and are perfect for busy mornings.
17. 30-Minute Caprese Chicken Recipe
With store-bought pesto, cherry tomatoes, leafy basil, and thick sliced fresh mozzarella, you can make this chicken caprese, skillet dinner in under 30 minutes.
18. Heirloom Tomato Caprese Frico Cups
Simple and summery, this tomato caprese appetizer is served in a baked and shaped salty parmesan bowl of its own for easy finger food.
19. Caprese Avocado Toast
Cottage cheese subs in for mozzarella in this healthy and simple avocado toast that’s perfect for a favorite breakfast, lunch and snack, plus 10 more toasts to try.
20. And if you need a break from tomatoes … Cantaloupe And Mozzarella Caprese Salad
Sweet balls of cantaloupe sub for tomatoes and pair nicely with salty shaved prosciutto in this simple twist on the classic caprese salad.
If you make this recipe, please let me know! Leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating on this recipe below and leave a comment, take a photo and tag me on Instagram with #foodiecrusheats.
20 Caprese Recipes You'll Go Crazy For | Burrata and Heirloom Tomato Caprese Salad
Ingredients
- 2 balls fresh burrata cheese
- 4-6 heirloom tomatoes , sliced
- handful of fresh basil leaves
- extra-virgin olive oil , (the fruitier the better)
- good quality balsamic vinegar
- kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Arrange the tomatoes on a platter around the burrata cheese balls. Sprinkle with fresh basil leaves then drizzle with a healthy pour of extra virgin olive oil. Drizzle with balsamic vinegar and season with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper.
- Serve at room temperature.
Nutrition
More Favorite Summer Recipes to Make and Love
- 30 Pasta Salads to Make all Summer Long
- 55 Healthy Zucchini Recipes to Make Now
- 45 Easy Potluck Side Dishes
- 28 Easy Grilling Recipes
- 30 Healthier Summer Potluck Salads to Make Now
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Sabrina says
thank you for all of these, Frico cup caprese especially, super creative recipe. am impressed!
Ashley @ Foodie Crush says
Thanks for reading, Sabrina!
Lois DeRaadt-Ackerman says
I have two favorites with caprese type ingredients:
Portobellos on grill with classic mozzarella and tomato then topped with basil shreds and balsamic reduction – full meal deal!
Also the addition of the perfect ripe Colorado peach nestled between the freshest slices of sweet tomatoes and basil and again balsamic glaze or balsamic and EVOO. It’s my favorite salad for August!!
Ashley @ Foodie Crush says
These sound delish! Thanks for sharing!